Could It Be...

...possible that we will see Polar Cub's face before the end of the year???

The chart above is from Rumor Queen's blog site. I normally don't look at the charts and graph, because they have been so depressing. This week, though, I did go onto the April '06 forum located on the RQ's site. There is such a feeling of energy and excitement in the forum, I can't help but get a little excited.

According to this chart, even if we only look at the worst case scenario we could quite possibly see our referral before Christmas. Our LID (log in date) is April 12. That would mean that we would be in the next batch NOT listed on the chart in the worst case column. It almost doesn't seem possible, and makes me all teary just typing this. We could see our munchkin in six months. Holy Crap!

In my little head I was thinking we would have a February referral, but I'll take it sooner. I'm trying so hard to not get too excited. You all know how this goes, anything can happen in the world of waiting, but good golly the light at the end of this everlasting, never ending tunnel just got a little bit bigger.

Family Room - Done!

The last time I posted I commented that Big Bear and I were about to start our 'Family Room ReDo'. The project wasn't as terrible as I thought, and I LOVE the results. Here is a couple of pictures of the before:

Big Bear did the top trim, and I did the base and window trim. Not a shocker to those of you who know us. *hahaha* I got up to move around the corner and this is what I see:

Love him!

After we finished the first round of trim work Big Bear commented how dark the color looked. It really did look darker than we had planned. Well, we finally figured out that I brought home the shade darker on the color swatch than the one we planned on. The color was supposed to be Teddy Bear Tan. Instead we got Smokey Topaz. I don't know if it was my fault or the paint guys, but it doesn't matter because this really turned out perfect.

The color looks a little more rust in the pictures than it does on the walls.

Now we are in discussion about what will go back on the walls. I really want to put the clock back up, my grandpa made it and even though it doesn't work anymore it means a lot to me. Big Bear doesn't show horses any more, so we are sort of past the horse pictures. I don't know which ones, if any, will make it back on the walls.

I did order these print blocks last week.

I saw them back in April on Pioneer Woman's blog and fell in love with them. I knew I wanted to find a place for them. We are going to put them up over the sofa table. Now the only question is two by two or four across????

The art work is titled 'Rain Prism' Here is the link if you would like more info or even want to get them for yourself. :o)

Next on the agenda are to paint the closets in polar cub's room. Hopefully I'll get that done this week. My niece and nephews arrive the first of next week, so I know I won't get much done while they are here. I'll be too busy playing! :)

What a Weekend!

The weekend started out with bang, since Friday was our last day of school!!!!  It was a REALLY long day.  I left the house at 7:15 and didn't get home until after 10PM.   At graduation the powers that be had a state congressman give the commencement speech. You know how 'wordy' politicians can be.  I can't tell you how many time he raised our hopes by saying, 'before I sit down...' and then would continue on.  It made for a L-O-N-G graduation.

This morning the first thing I did was get on the computer because two of my friends are in China right now!  Today two very special families received their beautiful daughters.  I am so very happy for everyone!!  

Click here to see Miss A

Click here to see PugBaby

I get teary every time I look at the pictures.  Seeing my friends with their babies does make it seem so much more real.

Today Big Bear and I also began the first item on a long To Do list I have for the summer.  For some strange reason I feel the need to paint, clean, and organize this den of ours, and I want it all done this summer.  Hopefully this will be my last free summer!  

We started right away with the family room.  Today we puttied holes, taped, and took down the border.  (Thank God!)  I have pictures that I was going to post, BUT I left the cord to the camera at school.  I'll have to post at another date.

Tomorrow I'm off to pick up the paint and start the trim work! 

Happy Dancing in KY

There are quite a few things to be jiggy about around here!! I think I'll just give a few of them ~ bullet style.

~My friend T and her husband received their daughter on Sunday. Jump over to here to her blog to see all E's cuteness!

~ We only have 8 days left of school.
Only 3 days left with seniors!!!!

~I've been back in the pool for two weeks. Yes, I've been bad. This morning I swam six 100's!!! ...and I didn't die of a heart attack!!!

~ We only have 8 days left of school.
Only 3 days left with seniors!!!!

~My family has planned a vacation in Tennessee the first part of July! Two of my three brothers, their families, my parents, and Big Bear and I will be spending a week sitting back soaking up the sunshine! Can't wait!!!

~ We only have 8 days left of school.
Only 3 days left with seniors!!!!

~There are only 28 days ahead of our LID!!
That knocked me for a loop the other day!

~ We only have 8 days left of school.
Only 3 days left with seniors!!!!

The BEST news of ALL:
~Our new I797C came in the mail on Friday!!!!
We are good until October, 2010. Polar cub will surly be home by then!!!

It NEVER Ends...

… Paperwork that is.

Big Bear received a call from our social work agency this morning. It seems that USC!S needs a few more things from us.

Heaven Help Me!

We have to send a notarized statement stating that we have never filed an I600. WHAT????? Also one of our letters of recommendation was not dated. Our friend must redo the letter with a date. Kidding RIGHT??????

I called our social worker back because I was confused. Then I got a little worried about this. We did file the I600A. It seems that we WILL file an I600 when we travel. There have been cases of people sending in an I600 for an extension for a second adoption on the paperwork from their first adoption. So starting LAST WEEK everyone must send in a notarized paper stating they have not filed an I600.

The fun continues… I’m off to do more paper work.

Ps. I’m a terrible blogger lately, I know. Sixteen school days and I may have a bit more time ~ if I’m not still sending in paper work. ;o)

Mini Sigh of Relief

Finally after four months of anxious emails to our agency and social worker, mid-morning – mid-afternoon – mid-anytime mini panic attacks, and/or waking in the middle of the night worrying about whether or not I would have to complete the I800 because no one could/would give me a definite answer about our paper work I can breathe a tiny sigh of relief. Look what came in the mail yesterday…

The only box checked was the one stating they need a new home study.

This letter is a form stating that we have received a third extension to our I797C. I have been checking the mail daily for the last two weeks. All I can say is what a mini relief. I will feel a complete and total relief once we have our new I-797C in my hot little hands.

In order to get that last piece of paper we still have to submit a home study. For those that know that little piece of the muddle ~ I am happy to report that our social worker will be at our house on Saturday, April 18th at 2:00pm. Hopefully not too long after that she will send in the last piece needed to complete our I797C.

The last time I completed all of this paper work (round 2) I was not nearly as anxious about it as I am this time. I think I knew that I would be doing the paper work for a third time so I had much more of an “ok, whatever” feeling. This time I’m having much more anxiety about the entire thing.

In an email from USC!S I was told that our extension will be valid from April 27, 2009 to October 26, 2010, no matter when all of the information is received. If Polar Cub isn’t home in the next 18 months you won’t find me in blog world any more. You will find me rocking back and forth in a padded room somewhere babbling about I-600As, I-800s, I-171H, I-797Cs, fingerprints, and home studies. No Joke.

Blow Out!!

On Sunday I experienced my first tire blowout while driving! Big Bear and I were driving home from my in-laws. I was driving and zipping the curves. It was a beautiful day out and I love to drive along the country road. My car hugs the road and it’s a lot of fun. Until…

Suddenly there was a loud noise. I instantly knew that I hit something. Boy! Did I hit something. I guess there was a chunk of cement covering a pipe on the edge of the road. I’ve never noticed it before, but I guess I ALWAYS come close to it. (I was so informed AFTER I hit the thing.) This time I hit that sucker full force, going a little too fast. Luckily there was a driveway just up the way a bit. This is a hilly, curvy road with many blind spots. It would have been too dangerous to change the tire without getting off the road.

Graciously I offered to change the tire. (I think I could do it) Big Bear just laughed at me. I’m not sure what was so funny, but he laughed. While he was changing the tire he proceeded to tell me that he has changed three tires in his life ~ two of them for me. Hmmmm… what is he trying to say? The one before WAS NOT my fault. That’s all I’m saying.

Big Bear took my car to the mechanic on Monday. I guess we were VERY lucky that we didn’t have two blowouts. The back tire had a knot in it the size of a golf ball. The mechanic was surprised we were able to get to town with that tire. We definitely would have been up a creek had both tires blown out.

This is going to be a story I’m going to have to hear about for the next several Easters, I’m sure.